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Where to start with Structured Cabling Career

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  • 27-05-2014 10:45pm
    #1
    BobbyD87
    Registered Users Posts: 2 ✭


    Hi Guys/Gals,

    First ever post on boards,
    I come from an IT background doing everything from basic helpdesk support to installing VOIP Phone systems in company's.
    Doing this work I done basic cabling and network managment and found I quiet liked it Athough I had no formal training in cabling I was running cables in suspended ceilings in trunking under desks and terminating them. It was all Cat5 cables I ran.
    I would love to try get into the structured cabling business and learn the trade, Far as I can make out in the UK you can do apprenticeships in cabling and network management (correct me please if I'm wrong).
    I was wondering is there anything like an apprenticeship for this in Ireland?
    Is there industry qualifications or courses I can do that wont cost an arm and leg? Is most cabling done by electricians in Ireland? Should I go down that route to eventually get into structured cabling?

    Any and all advice would be greatly appreciated.

    Thanks in advance.
    Tagged:


Comments

  • Options
    #2
    kippy
    Registered Users Posts: 18,561 ✭✭✭✭kippy


    I would assume that most cabling is done by electricians. Some electricians specialise in data cabling however.

    I'd suspect that you'd need to be an electrician at the bare minimum to even begin to specialise in this area as a viable profession.

    (Based on my own experience, I could be completely wrong)


  • Options
    #3
    Cuddlesworth
    Registered Users Posts: 13,984 ✭✭✭✭Cuddlesworth


    kippy wrote: »
    I would assume that most cabling is done by electricians. Some electricians specialise in data cabling however.

    I'd suspect that you'd need to be an electrician at the bare minimum to even begin to specialise in this area as a viable profession.

    (Based on my own experience, I could be completely wrong)

    Agreed, the vast majority of the data cabling work here is done by electricians. It isn't really enough to justify making it a singular job role here.


  • Options
    #4
    Overheal
    Registered Users Posts: 82,379 ✭✭✭✭Overheal


    Unless you also get into switchboards and node setup. I know several friends that quit retail to do that kind of work through telecoms like AT&T. Cisco is one that does whole enterprise network infrastructure. Structured cabling is only one aspect of the job ie. If that's all you do prepare to be regarded as an underling


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    #5
    BobbyD87
    Registered Users Posts: 2 ✭BobbyD87


    Thanks for the replies guys, certainly seems like only way into it is to become an electrician, Or maybe to go for the network management road as suggested. Will just have to keep studying and see if can gain the experience myself.


  • Options
    #6
    coylemj
    Registered Users Posts: 25,417 ✭✭✭✭coylemj


    OP, it will be very hard to differentiate yourself from the next guy when it comes to cabling. What I mean by that is that unless you start your own business, you will end up working for contract cabling companies who will bid for business based on the lowest tender so you will end up with not much more status and only slightly better pay compared to an office cleaner.

    Follow the money and stick with network s/w, not the cables. Being an expert in VoIP or network management will be far more rewarding, a cleaner job and much better paid than cabling.


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